Summer Went Too Fast

Although Summer is not officially over by the calendar, it is coming to a close for us as the kids
start back to school next week. I took these last few days off of this week to spend some extra time with them and to get everything prepared for them to go back. Summer sure went fast and we found it hard to keep up. I sure felt like we were chasing it. My garden and flower beds are plum full of weeds (as usual they got away from me sometime around County Fair time). I have a few more dust bunnies in the corners of the house and some of the big projects I wanted to get done around here have yet to have happened but all in all, it was a good summer. We were happy to be at home and spending time together.

We are all avid readers at our house and the kids and I all caught up on reading some good books.

I have only two weeks left of the online photography class I have been taking. It has taken up most of the free "me" time I had but was well worth it. I am not interested in doing it for a career. I am only wanting to take better photographs of my family so as to better document our lives. Jessica has been a great trooper to be my model for many of my assignments. This photo was taken in full manual mode which I had never done before. I am still not sure what I am doing but have seen an improvement in my photos so I am very happy about that.

Kyle is doing well. He has grown up a lot this summer. He has enjoyed spending most of his days with Kenton farming. He drives the tractors now quite easily.

If you remember from an earlier post this Spring we had a bottle calf this year, actually we had two of them. This is "Apples." She has grown quite a bit also. She is even bigger than her twin sister who we didn't have to bottle feed. She is pretty tame and Kyle has really enjoyed her.

We hope to spend the next few days enjoying what is left of summer as the kids are already getting started on school activities. I only wish summer could last longer!

You might have noticed I am in the process of changing our blog a little. I gave it a new title as we really are "Celebrating Life" now!

Celebrate Life

I hope to make another post about later in the weekend but wanted to post another great You Tube video that both Kyle and I just love. Not sure everyone will think it is appropriate for a church wedding but it sure makes you feel like celebrating life!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Back From Camping

We took Kyle's from new camper from "Make a Wish" out this past 4 days and just returned today. We originally planned on going as far as Mount Rushmore but due to other commitments keeping us here a few days longer we left on Thursday and decided to camp at Louis and Clark Lake in Yankton, SD. It was a great spot. We had lots of fun. Kyle and Kenton got to do some fishing at the Lake as well as the Missouri River. Jess and I conned them into going to a few antique stores. We ventured up to Mitchell to see the famous Corn Palace too. In all it was just a good time hanging out together and sharing some laughs. We are already trying to plan when we can go next.

Kyle in front of Louis and Clark Lake.

I have been experimenting with my camera. This is not quite what I was going for but I love the picture anyway. The guys were fishing right up until dark that night on Lake Yankton. I hate to say but we didn't have much luck. They thought fishing was better back at home on our pond!

Maybe we will rent a boat the next time instead of fishing from the shore. It was a good time though and we all enjoyed it.

Taylor County Fair

The Taylor County Fair 2009 ended on Sunday and we all went home very tired but happy to have had such a good time. We end up spending the entire day at the fair grounds most of all four days. On Thursday, Jessica received the honor of Miss Congeniality in the Queen Contest. We were all so proud of her. She did an awesome job. On Friday she helped the Fair Queen hand out ribbons at the Livestock Show. She also took two 4-H projects this year. Both did well, one was a pencil drawing and it is going to the State Fair. The other was her "Green Housekeeping Cleaning Supplies" which got a State Fair Consideration. Actually, the window/glass cleaner works better than the brand name stuff.

On Friday Kyle showed his pigs. Although they did not win in their class his production pig had a good rate of gain which made him happy. His pigs always seem to do better in the carcass contest, which actually tells you which one had the best cuts of meat. He has won the Carcass contest the last two years. We will not find out those results until August.

The weather was beautiful. Kyle had to care for his pigs both in the mornings and the evenings. Both the kids and I worked at the 4-H building and the 4-H food stand and Jessica had to work at the "Dunk Tank". Kenton helped when he could but was also busy trying to put up hay. He wanted to get it done so we could try to take a little camping trip later this week. Busy times but lots of memories were made.

Great Music

Our family is busy with the Taylor County Fair. Hope to post some pictures in the next few days. Found this wonderful musical arrangement and just had to post a link. Cello and piano are my two favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Frock%2Dmore%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2Fsearch%3Fupdated%2Dmax%3D2009%2D06%2D30T21%253A35%253A00%2D06%253A00%26max%2Dresults%3D7&feature=player_embedded

Make A Wish

Kyle was nominated for "Make a Wish" back during the time he was waiting for his heart transplant. Representatives came to visit us early this past spring to see what Kyle wanted. He wanted a camper. Kyle loves camping, hunting, and pretty much anything that has to do with the outdoors. Last summer we had taken a few days off for a little vacation and on our way home we stopped by a camper dealership to "dream". We saw some beautiful campers and Kyle wanted one badly. He begged Kenton and I to get one but at the time we just felt we couldn't financially take on the payments. We have an older camper but it is small and difficult to sleep all four of us, esp. the tall ones in the bunch, so we usually had to take the tent along. We weren't surprised that his wish was for a camper. I was just concerned it would be too much for Make a Wish to do. The Make a Wish office contacted me a few weeks ago and told me it was a go. Kyle was going to get his camper. So today the four of us traveled to Council Bluffs to Leach Camper Sales where the Make a Wish representatives and Leach Camper Sales presented Kyle with his new 20' Wildwood travel trailer. It has enough room for all four of us, even the tall ones, to sleep in. What a great day! Kyle was so excited! He is looking forward to taking it out. When Kyle was in the hospital out in St. Louis we would talk about his wish and he looked forward to getting it granted. I am totally amazed by the Make a Wish foundation. What great people they are! I will forever be grateful! Kyle continues to live each day to the fullest. He plays hard and is jsut enjoying life. How blessed we are!

4th of July

Kyle has always wanted to drive something in the 4th of July parade. This year when he asked it seemed appropriate. So he drove the "Bush Hog" Kenton and Kyle got this spring. His friend, Colton, rode with him to toss out candy. This year's theme was "Small town, big heart". We wanted Kyle to put something on his poster to display our thanks to the wonderful community we live in. He thought up the saying himself. It said, "Miracles can happen when your small town has big hearts". I don't know if you can tell, but he had a sucker in his mouth, was tossing out candy, waving at the crowd, smiling and trying to drive all at the same time. He did a wonderful job and he was loving every minute of it. It great to watch. I know when I look back I will remember this moment today as one of my favorite 4th of July memories. Happy 4th of July!